Can punches



Oct. 25, 1955 L. GAGNON 2,721,380

CAN PUNCHES Filed March 11, 1955 INVENTOR- Lwzs L. G-ayrzn BY fife ey.

United States Patent CAN PUNCHES Louis L. Gagnon, Sault Ste. Marie, Ontario, Canada Application March 11, 1955, Serial No. 493,676

3 Claims. (Cl. 306.1)

This invention relates to can punches.

An object of the invention is to provide a punch for cans, particularly motor oil containing cans, which is of simple, inexpensive manufacture, which is capable of convenient mounting for use, and which is susceptible to convenient and rapid operation.

The invention contemplates the provision of a unitary frame member having opposed end flanges, one of said flanges constituting a can receiving seat, a spring-pressed plunger reciprocally mounted in the other of said flanges, and a bar carried by and extending transversely of one end of said plunger between said flanges, said bar having a depending knife section at each end thereof.

The invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawing, in which Figure 1 is a perspective view of a can punch in accordance with the invention,

Figure 2 is a plan view of a can punched with the punch shown in Figure 1,

Figure 3 is a partial elevation of a slightly modified form of punch, and v Figure 4 is a plan view of a can punched with the punch shown in Figure 3.

Referring to the drawing, 1 is a frame member, preferably of metal, having a bottom flange 2 constituting a seat for a can, as indicated at 3, and a top flange 4 in overhanging relation to the flange 2 and can seated thereon. The rear portion of bottom flange 2 may have fixed thereto one or more arcuate strips 5 providing a can positioning means thereon.

A tube 6 is mounted in perpendicular relation in flange 4, such tube extending slightly below the inner surface of the flange. A plunger rod 7 is reciprocably mounted in tube 6 and carries a hand-engageable disc 8 at its upper end to facilitate the application of downwardly acting pressure thereto. A bar 9 is fixed intermediate its ends to the lower or other end of the rod 7, such bar extending transversely of the rod and carries an integral knife section 10 at each end. As shown in Figure 1, each knife section 10 depends downwardly from the bar 9 and is inclined inwardly towards the axis of rod 7. The end portion of each knife section 10 is triangular in shape and the knife proper thereof comprises a pair of sharpened edges 11 converging to an apex as shown.

A coil spring 12 is sleeved upon the tube 6 and rod 7, the lower end of such spring bearing upon the flange 4 and the upper end thereof bearing upon the disc 8. It will be apparent that the spring 12 normally holds the rod 7 and bar 9 in upper position.

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The device is adapted for mounting on an upright post 13 as by screws 14.

In operation, with a can seated on flange 2 and positioned in engagement with strips 5, pressure is manually applied to disc 8 to effect a downward stroke of plunger rod 7. Such stroke causes the knife sections 10 to enter the can and produce triangular openings 15 therein. On release of the rod, spring 12 returns it to its upper position and withdraws the knife sections from the can. The can may then be removed from the device and the contents thereof, such as motor oil, poured from one or other of the openings 15.

A slightly modified form of the invention is illustrated in Figures 3 and 4, wherein, instead of bar 9, a bar 16 is provided, such bar carrying knife sections 17 at the ends thereof. Each knife section 17 is inclined downwardly and in a direction outwardly from the axis of rod 7. Each knife section may also have a downwardly projecting pointed end 18 to facilitate puncturing of the can. Such knife sections produce triangular openings 19 in the can, the position of which is reversed with respect to openings 15 produced with the previously described embodiment. Openings 19 may be preferred in that they provide a pouring spout formation.

It will thus be apparent that an extremely simple and rugged device has been provided for opening cans, and particularly motor oil cans, and wherein opening of the cans may be effected in a rapid and convenient manner with substantially little effort. The provision of two large openings facilitates the pouring of the can contents.

I claim:

1. A can puncher comprising a unitary frame member having an intermediate straight body portion, a bottom flange extending right angularly from one end of said body portion and constituting a can seat, and a top flange extending right angularly from the other end of said body portion and overhanging said bottom flange, a tube fixed to and extending perpendicularly through said top flange, a plunger rod reciprocally mounted in said tube, a bar fixed to and extending transversely of one end of said plunger between said flanges, said bar having an integral depending knife section at each end thereof, and a spring mounted on said tube and urging said rod and bar away from said bottom flange.

2. A can puncher as defined in claim 1, each said knife section being inclined in a direction towards the axis of said plunger rod, and having a pair of sharpened edges converging to a point.

3. A can puncher as defined in claim 1, each said knife section. being inclined outwardly away from the axis of said plunger rod and having a pair of sharpened edges converging to a point.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 2,624,108 Anderson Jan. 6, 1953 2,636,258 Jones Apr. 28, 1953 FOREIGN PATENTS 843,062 Germany July 8, 1949 

